Matrimonial Mocktails

A tradition that began in the 1980's, which has found itself becoming increasingly popular, is celebrating occasions with Mocktails, the gorgeous alcohol free cocktail drinks that can be enjoyed by all.

Indulgy

A tasteful alternative for a stunning wedding toast, Mocktails offer a multitude of benefits. Providing a selection of some of the most delightful combinations of flavours, aesthetically pleasing, and a perfect way to really personalise your toast with a drink that will reflect your tastes, this is a sure fire way to really capture the imagination of your guests.

Mocktails are more than just visually stimulating drinks though, as they yield a multitude of benefits. From enabling the younger guests to participate in the toast, or including any pregnant guests (or possibly the bride), choosing this non-alcoholic substitute also offers health benefits, with a wide range of vitamins and nutrients in each drink, eliminating hangovers, and keeping the atmosphere light hearted. It will also allow non-drinking guests to fully enjoy the occasion without feeling conscious, and is especially well suited for Sunday weddings, with the guests able to imbibe as many drinks as they wish, sample every flavour, and still feel great the following day.

Black Pearl Weddings would like to share with you a list of our favourite Mocktails and the recipes to create the perfect non-alcoholic beverage for you and your guests.

First we would like to present the recipe for the indomitable Virgin Mojito

Virgin Mojito

Foodnetwork

Ingredients:
1 oz Lime Juice
4 oz Soda Water
6 Mint Leaves
2 tsps Brown Sugar

Prepare in glass

Preparation:

Add the lime juice, brown sugar and mint leaves in a Highball glass.
Bruise a few mint leaves using a spoon so that their juice can get out.
Let this mix rest for a few hours for best results.
Fill the glass with ice and stir.
Top with Club Soda (or Sprite).
Add a twig of mint for decoration.


Next, the legendary classic Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple

Drink alternatives

Ingredients:
1⁄2 oz Grenadine
4 oz Ginger Ale

On the Rocks

Preparation:

Add grenadine in a highball glass half-filled with ice cubes.
Top with ginger ale. Some use Sprite instead.
Garnish with a Maraschino cherry and/or and orange wedge.


Another classic we absolutely have to share is the delectable Cinderella

Cinderella

Caraibos

Ingredients
1 part Orange Juice
1 part Pineapple Juice
3 Lime Wedge
1 Lemon

Prepare in shaker


Preparation:

Muddle lemon and lime.
Shake with pine and orange juice over ice.
Strain into a prechilled tulip glass over ice.


This take on the Bloody Mary is a serious contender for any chic occasion

Virgin Mary

Delish

Ingredients:
4 oz Tomato Juice
1 dash Lemon Juice
2 drops Tabasco
1 pinch Celery Salt
0.5 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
Method: On the Rocks

Preparation:

Rim a tall glass with celery salt.
Fill the glass with ice.
Pour in all ingredients, keeping the tomato juice last.
Stir.
Serve with a celery stick.



And Finally, a favourite among younger guests

Elimary cocktail

My best cocktails

3 oz Pineapple Juice
1 tsp Grenadine
4 oz Lemonade
2 Raspberry
1 part Lime Wedge

Prepare in glass

Preparation:
Put lemonade juice in a wine class
Add Pineapple juice
Drop slowly 2 raspberries
Add a piece of lime and a straw

Neon Nuptials

Badgerthayer.com

With the 2013 Wedding Season truly at its apex, Black Pearl Weddings are already looking to 2014, and the trends emerging in the forthcoming wedding scene.And so, we thought what better place to start our journey that with wedding fashion. 

The use of bold neon colour is a fashion that has become so beloved recently, that it promises to continue as strongly in 2014, if not even more so. While such daring colour may unnerve the cautious, bright neon styling can prove an extremely fun and visually pleasing option when done with care.

Green Wedding Shoes

The injection of splashes of colour in a subdued setting can create a truly delightful atmosphere; we have all learned that colour has powerful stimulation on the brain, with positive benefits including heightened senses of excitement, happiness, and increased energy and enthusiasm. This shared impact will definitely impact upon the pleasure of the occasion.

Neon colours can be used on everything from flowers, to table decoration, to the wedding dress itself. And though less is sometimes more, keeping the theme throughout your styling in an elegant way is one sure fire way to really make your wedding a day for all to fondly remember.

Bridal Expo Chicago

One Parisian treasure we find is a breath of fresh air in wedding fashion is non-other than the spectacular and accomplished Max Chaoul. With his bold use of Neon colour, coupled up with the use of varied classic design styles, he has truly managed to collaborate vintage chic with edgy contemporary twists. 

With worldwide acclaim, and adoring clients from every corner of high society, Max Chaoul designs are absolutely revolutionary to the traditional wedding styles, creating a whole new set of opportunities to put flair into your styling and design.

Max Chaoul Couture

 Max Chaoul Couture

Max Chaoul Couture

With such a wealth of inspiration, Black Pearl Weddings could not help but create our latest stunning inspiration board, showcasing the beauty of Neon colour.

Image Sources

(Clockwise from the top left)

Image 1: Brides Magazine

Image 2: All Women Stalk

Image 3: Max Chaoul Couture

Image 4: Pinterest.com

Image 5: Polka Dot Bride

Image 6 : Max Chaoul Couture

The Splendid Swinging 60's

The 1960's was a decade that proved a major transition in fashions, spawning many styles that are still in relevant within current day designs.

Black Pearl Weddings feel that as the British summer reaches its crescendo, this is a milestone in our history and culture that deserves reflection. In this weeks blog post, we will be considering the influences the decades social revolution has over weddings and fashion even today.

One of the first and main aspects of the 1960's that comes to mind is the "Hippy" movement. The principles that drove forward this movement include "Non-conformism", "Flower Power", "Free-spiritedness" and "Spreading love and peace", all of which will strike a chord to some extent with those planning their wedding. These principles can prove a strong guidance in styling your wedding, in that it encourages individuality and unique styling, whilst remembering that the day is a celebration of the love shared between two people, and the love others have for the happy couple.

In keeping with the social beliefs of this era, outdoor weddings can easily incorporate and reflect the love of our natural environment, as appreciated with tree hugging, self sufficiency and the use of tents and the forever classic VW Campervan, the 1960's offers a wealth of inspiration for gorgeous outdoor ceremonies and festival-esque reception parties that will be impressive and enjoyable by any standards.

It would be impossible not to reminisce the music scene of the 1960's, with some of the most memorable acts in the last century peaking during what was a seminal era for the global music scene. With acts such as the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys or of course the unforgettable Glastonbury and Woodstock festivals, the list of artists can continue for hours. A huge amount of the current music scene is still influenced by these artists, and with an almost endless array of tribute acts, it is easy to garner inspiration for your wedding music to really enhance the happy and loving atmosphere.

Equally, it was at that time that the world became more inclined towards vegetarianism and veganism, another aspect of the Hippy lifestyle. Some cuisine of the highest calibre is produced by and for vegetarians, with famous chefs such as Yotam Ottolenghi, Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson or Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall proudly producing sumptuous dishes that would have been celebrated throughout the 60's. One huge advantage of selecting vegetarian cuisine is that it's pallatability is suitable for everyone, and some of the greatest imaginable flavours can be created without the use of meats.

And finally, it would be utterly impossible to appreciate the nostalgic influence of the 60's, without paying our credence to the enduring advancements in fashions. It was at this time that the world was introduced to the legendary photographer David Bailey, photographer to the fashion industry ad stars of the time, among his interests, who helped to truly revolutionise the methodology of styling photo shoots.

At the forefront of the fashion revolution were designers including the esteemed Mary Quant, Pierre Cardin, John Rocha, and Barbara Hulanicki, famed for pioneering mini skirts, flares, flowing dresses and skirts, headbands, and using beads to embroider or as an accessory. Neatly trimmed and flat outfits with lavish displays of bold colours became increasingly popular, as did flat shoes and kitten heels. The pervasive influence of this use of colour and at the time revolutionary style and shape of clothing still inspire designers season after season.

Image Source

Image 1 - Henry Roth
Image 2 - Bridal Musings
Image 3 - Max Chaoul
Image 4 - Photography Farm
Image 5 - The Beatles
Image 6 - Styleite.com

Head Over Heels Entertainment meet Black Pearl Weddings

Head Over Heels Entertainment are one of the very best entertainment providers throughout London. With a huge array of acts, they are able to provide entertainment tailored for any occasion, at competitive rates. Black Pearl Weddings have had the privilege of interviewing Hayley, who heads this exceptional company. Not only a manager, she is a classically trained soprano, and a n expert in assisting clients to source the very best musical acts for their occasion. 

Please can you tell me a little bit about your business?  

Head Over Heels Entertainment proudly provides outstanding professional musicians and entertainers for Weddings across the South East.

With over 10 years experience in the Music Industry, we can deliver complete entertainment solutions for the entirety of your day. By representing some of the Country's Finest Professional Musicians, all carefully handpicked, we're offering you the peace of mind you're booking first class entertainment, that your guests 'can't help but fall in love with.'  Covering Classical, Celtic, Jazz, World, Opera, Pop and Rock styles we can cater for all musical tastes.

What type of services do you offer? 

At Head Over Heels we understand that no two Weddings are ever the same, which is why we offer you a totally bespoke service. We will work alongside you from the early planning stages right up to your big day to create the finest package unique to you that truly represents your style and musical taste. If we do not have the specific act you are looking for, we will endeavor to source or put together one from the wealth of incredible musicians we have available to us. We pride ourselves on being able to provide all of your musical requirements, all under the one roof, saving you time and money making multiple bookings.

We can supply all of your musical entertainment from your Ceremony, through to your Drinks Reception, your Wedding Breakfast and your evenings entertainment.

We offer competitively priced rates, excellent customer service, a straight forward, efficient booking process and exceptionally talented musicians!

What type of venues have you performed at?

Our Musicians have performed for prestigious clients including:

Rolex, Hermes, The Royal Family, The King of Thailand, Olympics 2012, Universal Pictures, The Baftas, Miramax, BBC, ITV, for 007 Bond Films, and many more….

Performed at World-renowned venues:

The Royal Albert Hall, The Kremlin Palace, The Waldorf Astoria, The Ritz, Harrods, Ronnie Scotts, Somerset House, Viper Room on Sunset Blvd, Bowery Ballroom NYC, Wembley Stadium, The F1 Grand Prix, Grosvenor House and many more…

And have performed alongside:

Il Divo, Adele, Beyonce, Will Young, Cold Play, Westlife, Michael Crawford, Katherine Jenkins, Status Quo, Charlotte Church, Jay–Z, Lana Del Ray, Tina Turner and many more…

How does your service appeal to couples?

The benefit of being able to source all of your Entertainment for the entirety of your day in the same place, saves our clients time and money. Multiple act bookings not only benefit from a discounted rate but logistically the client only has to deal with one person regarding all their entertainment planning. We provide a comprehensive contract that will cover all the acts booked, and in the event of illness provide replacement bands or musicians at last minute, which direct bookings with artists cannot provide.

Booking with Head Over Heels also ensures you are getting absolutely first class entertainment, musicians that they very night before your Wedding could have been performing at The Royal Albert Hall, in London’s West End or accompanying a world-renowned artist.

What can your service add to a wedding?

At Head Over Heels we love a good romance and delight in the opportunity of playing a part towards your special day. We understand the vital importance of all those extra little details that help make your day just truly perfect. With our array of stunning Wedding Singers, elegant Musicians and energetic Wedding Bands we hope to be able to provide you with outstanding entertainment for your entire day, from start to finish.

Our Acts regularly play during the:

CIVIL OR CHURCH CEREMONY

·      Entertaining your guests before the Ceremony.

·      As the Bride walks down the aisle.

·      During the Singing of the Register

·      Along with your hymns and other important moments.

HOH Recommends: Classical Vocalists, Harpist, String Quartet, Saxophonist or Pianist.

DRINKS RECEPTION

·      Enchanting your guests during the photographs and meet and greets.

Live music creates a beautiful atmosphere ideal for receptions, one of elegance, glamour and serenity. Why not keep your guests happily entertained and tapping their feet along to one of our Jazz Bands during the sometimes- lengthy wedding photos!

Weddings can be a time of reunions so you don't need loud bands spoiling conversations. An unobtrusive pianist, jazz duo, guitarist or string quartet can set the mood just perfectly. Or wow your guests with our breathtaking Soprano duo Dolce Divas or liven the party up with sounds of the Caribbean with our Steel Pan Band! Whether you love Jazz, Classical, World or Pop Music we will find the perfect act for you.

WEDDING BREAKFAST

·      Providing elegant background music to accompany your meal, whilst enhancing the romantic atmosphere.

HOH Recommends: Soprano Duo, Jazz Harp, Saxophonist, Pianist, Guitar/Vocal Duo or Jazz Quartet.

AFTER DINNER ENTERTAINMENT

If music be the food of love, play on! William Shakespeare

·      Are you looking for a night of non-stop dancing with a sensational live wedding band?!

·      Would you like to surprise your guests with stunning Opera Singers, an Electric String Quartet Show or even an Irish Dance Spectacle?

Why not make your first dance even more memorable with a live performance of your favourite song. Or kick off the evening with a Ceilidh or a Jazz Band before the DJ hits the floor.

Whether you are looking for a band to dance with, an Operatic or Rock performance to sing a long with or even a Celtic show to do a jig with! We are sure to be able to put a smile on your guest's faces and give you a night to remember!                                    

All of our bands provide state of the art PAT tested PA and lighting systems and public liability insurance.

What advice would you give a couple when selecting a band.

The choice of band for a Wedding can be pivotal to the success of the evening. I would recommend firstly deciding on the style of music that you and your partner love and what best suits/represents you, be that a Swing Band, a Function Covers Band, a Rock Band or Ceilidh band?

Seek recommendations from friends and advice from a Music Consultancy like Head Over Heels Entertainment. We can provide you with video and audio clips from a variety of different bands to give you some inspiration. We also provide repertoire lists for all our bands so you can see if the songs you love are in their set lists. If you have a special song you would love to be played our bands are always happy to learn this for you.

There are so many bands on the Wedding scene at moment, but only a few that stand out as having WOW factor and are seasoned professionals at what they do. Make sure you ask to see bands testimonials or references, and read their biographies, where have they played before and for whom? How long have the band been performing together?

If you get the opportunity go and see your band perform live, and watch the reaction they are getting in the room, is everyone up dancing and singing along?  Can you imagine them performing on your special day?!

We would love to sit down and talk you through your many options and line ups, and start helping you put together the little touches to make your day that extra bit more special.

See Head Over Heels Entertainment Website for further information.

www.hohentertainment.co.uk

Bridal Nail Trends By Passion Nails of Whetstone

Passion Nails of Whetstone are a superb manicure, pedicure and tanning salon that are well equipped to meet the beautification requirements of even the most demanding brides. Black Pearl Weddings took the opportunity to look at their stunning parlour in greater depth.

Please can you tell us a little bit about you and business?

At Passion nails we aim to give each and every one of our customers a high standard of service and satisfaction. We know that all the ladies are individuals therefore we try to create nails that enhance their hands, making them more elegant and beautiful.

My name is Lilly and I am the manager of passion nails, I do my best to ensure that every lady who comes to passion nails will be confident that when they leave they will not only be happy with their nails but also enjoy the experience here. I try to create a warm and friendly atmosphere, so that customers don't feel having their nails done is a chore but a experience that they look forward to coming back again and again.

What type of services do you offer?

Our services includes,
Manicure
Pedicure
Nails enhancement Gel/ Acrylic
Shellac manicure and pedicure.
We also have a sunbed facility.

Tell us about your Nails and designs?

We give advice on what nails is suitable for the customers for their way of living, which is best suitable for them. We can customize the nails to how they want and if the customers have any designs ideas they can bring a photo and we will do our best to recreate for them.

What is popular among brides at the moment?

I find that most brides love the classic French, clean, simple and chic. Any other requirements beads or diamonds can be added for an extra eye catching effect.

What advice would you give brides on nails?

French always looks great in photos and compliments the wedding dresses.

Any exciting news for 2014?

Hopefully new products, colours and techniques that will not only improve but enhances our services.

Passion Nails are located on 1384 Whetstone High Rd, London, N20 9BH, and can be contacted on 0208 445 4456 to schedule appointments and consultations.

Images provided by Passion Nails of Whetstone

Black Pearl Weddings Meet Talented Kate Edmondson

Black Pearl Weddings have taken the chance to get to know Kate Edmonson of Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture more in-depth. An established designer of wedding and special occasion dresses, Kate is very enthusiastic to share her inspirations, born of the Jazz Age, and what she thinks will make for the prefect bespoke bridal gown.

Tell us a bit about you and your business?

We design and make luxury end wedding dresses and hair accessories.  All our products are hand made in- house and using luxury silks, satin and lace.  We offer a fully bespoke service which includes the design cut and finish of all pieces.  We work individually with all our clients to ensure each piece is made to perfection.

Tell us about your dresses and designs?

My designs are inspired through the fashion from the vintage Hollywood era.  The Art Deco age I love!! Working with luxury silks and embellishments, I particularly love the cuts and styles of this era. Although my inspiration comes from this era I add a modern twist to my dresses.

What type of bride do your dresses appeal to?

My dresses appeal to the modern bride.  Looking for a dress that will flatter and reflect their personality, my dresses appeal to a very stylish bride not afraid to try something different.

What advice would you give a bride on finding their perfect dress?

My advice to all brides is to try on as many dresses as possible, so you can get ideas of the best shape to suit you.  I would then decide on the details such as the fabric and trims afterwards.  Do as much research as possible.  Collect ideas you have for your dress, using anything that inspires you.  I would recommend getting something made rather than buying off the peg.  This allows you not only to get a dress that is special to you, but also to get the details right with the cut and fit of your dress.  I offer all brides a calico fitting, which allow the brides to see a mock up version of their dress, before it’s cut in the fabric.  This is such an important process as it ensures that your dress is cut and fitted to perfection.

Any exciting news for 2014?

For next year I would like to begin supplying my dresses to luxury boutiques. Keep building the brand name !!

Visit Kate Edmondson Website to view her stunning range of dress

Kate Edmondson Bridal Website

Images Courtsey of Kate Edmondson

Styling your wedding photographs

Over the past few weeks, we have been blogging tips to assist those about to get married, and in keeping with that theme, we are now moving on to the post ceremony photo shoot. So for those planning their wedding, this blog is designed to help you maximize your wedding photography.
When you are ready for the collective group shots after the ceremony, there are some helpful hints to get the best from your shoot:

1. Check your appearance before posing for the photographs

Whether it’s a case of double checking your apparel is all in place, wiping some arbitrary sweat from your brow, or adjusting your make up to look fresh, a few minutes just to check yourself over will not only help you to look your best in the shots, but will also increase your confidence.

2. Remain happy and composed 

Try not to let emotions overcome you for the photo shoot, as these pictures will be with you for life, and the last thing you want to remind yourself of is feeling anxious, awkward, or overcome with emotion and tearful. The pictures will serve as nostalgia of true happiness, so concentrate on your elated feeling and let your joy shine through.

You may find it helpful to read our previous posts on composure for pointers on retaining your composure.

3. Relax and give natural poses

Some may find it tempting to give comedic poses, which always make for a fun shot, but it is crucial to find that all important balance to include an abundance of beautiful natural shots that really capture the ambience of the occasion.

4. Know your photographer

Try to establish a great rapport with your photographer beforehand, as knowing you will help them to know what is required to get the very best shots for you; they will also have experience and skill with creating the posed shots, so it is definitely worth really researching your photographer and communicating well with them to achieve photographic perfection.

5. Don’t rush

Allow plenty of time so that the photographer can capture a multitude of shots. Giving it that extra bot of time will yield great results, and feeling rushed won’t impede your ability to give superbly photogenic shots.

6. Picture partnership

People often have a natural tendency to pose for shots with people that they feel most comfortable with, but on this occasion, try to allow for the opportunity to be snapped with as many of the guests as possible. Instead of opting for shots with your own nearest and dearest, give the photographer the opportunity to capture you with the in-laws or those more distant guests. These pictures will increase the fond memories in years to come, and will really showcase the day.

7. Spousal Shots

The single most important aspect of the photoshoot, make sure that the photographer concentrates on shooting the very best possible shots of you and your betrothed. These shots are really the whole point of the shoot and reflect the purpose of the day – joining the two of you together in matrimony for a happy ever after. The better the shots, the more choice for a framed center piece on your mantelpiece.

Image source : Baby Swag